Why don’t we just put a put a bow on this non-bird month. Just sitting here taking a quick break to recover from my morning run. As you know if you read this blog, just sitting around doing nothing isn’t one of my favorite things to do – seems wasteful when there’s so many pictures in the queue! How about we sit here and recover from my morning run while cranking out a post – ahhh, much better.
Today we feature a creature that has a similar characteristic with birds.. albeit a much more fragile version.
That’s right, today we are featuring butterflies. This generally means one thing to me – outings where I didn’t find any birds, dragonflies or frogs. That is usually my progression out in the field. After that you get spiders, insects and last resort a worm. This particular butterfly is called an Orange Sulphur and was shot in Champaign IL.
Hit the jump to see a couple more butterfly specimens!
Next up is a fairly common butterfly. I have seen it on a number of trips across the US.
It is called the Mourning Cloak and this particular specimen was shot while on our Yellowstone trip back in June 2013. Based on how late it was in the trip, I suspect it was more likely while we were traveling through the Grand Tetons. Now time for audience participation. Do you like the composition better on the above shot or the shot below.
Something about a downward facing subject that doesn’t seem to feel right. It works for a Nuthatch, but not so sure about the butterfly – let me know in the comments – maybe I’m just weird.
I will point out that unlike the Sulphur above, the Mourning Cloak doesn’t look that appealing in a closed wing state.
The next butterfly comes to us via our Wisconsin/Michigan vacation back in July 2012. It is called a Northern Pearly-Eye. Again, fairly common in the Eastern half of the US. Based on the region maps, it looks like we pretty much traveled the Western edge of its range.
By the way, one of my better butterfly shots.
I shot the next butterfly back in May 2012. From what I can tell from the surrounding pictures, this Eastern Comma was shot somewhere around our lot. Again, like the Pearly-Eye a butterfly fairly common in the Eastern half of the US. Quite the pretty little fellow – sorry folks, no shots from the front
Lastly, I bring you another butterfly taken in the Grand Tetons back in June 2013. This one carries an intriguing color palette. Almost like a white butterfly didn’t heed a wet paint sign on a railing freshly painted with orange.
Like the bird namers, it appears the butterfly namers are equally adept at the obvious – this one was given the name Orange Tip. I can imagine it now..”Hmmm, what should I name this new specimen of butterfly with the cute orange tips? I know Orange Tip!” Sigh.
All I have for today – the legs are feeling better – might be time for a mow.
Wow, I like that Orange Tip! I’ve never seen one of those, but it’s very distinctive!
I prefer the shot of the Mourning Cloak facing up, but since the downward-facing photo has a better shot of the butterfly I think you could turn it upside down and no one would be the wiser.
After birds, dragonflies, frogs and butterflies, I default to flowers before insects. Actually, spiders and insects are way down on my list, below snakes, tree bark that looks like things, water and ice ripples, and backlit spiderwebs. I have some butterflies in the queue, actually.
Thanks for the butterfly pics. Maybe the reason you might find butterflies when there are no birds is because then there are no birds to eat them.
Ron
Are you suggesting I alter an image!?! What do you think I am, a Times photographer hehehe.
I am surprised that insects are so far down on your list – I find them fascinating especially when the Macro glass is on – surely, they are more exciting that water ripples! Now if you are scared of the tiny creatures, then that is a totally different story.
Good observation on the Bird to Butterfly ratio – certainly there were no Flycatchers in the area or those wings would have been dinner.